Week 1 part 2 - Slice of Life class

On Friday I was able to get out and hike, relax and take a gazillion photos. :o) Here are a few of the best ones.

In this photo, I love the vivid yellow with the bit of blue sky... and that the flower takes up most of the frame.

Always love the light coming through the leaves. The intense green and light and shadow are beautiful to me.

This is my favorite one! I found these growing between the stream and a tree. It feels so magical to me. Like there are fairies nearby!

I love experimenting with pointing the camera at the sun. In this photo what matters to me is the diffused light on the leaves and the large contrast between dark and light.

Also love experimenting with taking photos of water and rocks. I love the feeling of the shadow and also the light on the water. If you look closely there are bubbles too.

What's up there? Maybe not the best composition, but I love that pose!

Enjoy!
Lisa
♥

Week 1 - Darrah Parker's Slice of Life class

I just started Darrah Parker's Slice of Life photography class and I love it already! Here are a few of my shots from Week 1.


Who doesn't love the texture and color of peacock feathers?

I started an oil infusion of rose, lavender, chamomile and calendula (massage/bath oil) and got this shot before the petals soaked up too much oil. I thought the way the light was hitting the pink rose petal was gorgeous. To me seeing the lavender and other flowers floating in the oil was beautiful and the few bubbles were interesting too!

We've been having some wonderful afternoon thunderstorms recently here. I was lucky to be out and see this. I love the contrast of the dark rain on the right and the clouds above with the light behind it. Being able to see the mist of the rain falling is important to me as well. I don't see this very often and feel lucky to have captured it.

Wow, did I get lucky! I was taking photos of the beautiful light of sunset in the clouds and just as I took the photo, lightening flashed. I love the grey-blues and the pink-orange of the clouds.

For this one, I like the blue and the blurry green background and the light in the bottle. [please forgive the dirty window! :) ]

This is from my altar. I was drawn to the deep reds and neutrals. The shell was a gift from a friend and reminds me of her as well as the goddess Ixchel.

And ending with a dozing dog....

With joy,
Lisa
♥

21 Secrets Interview: Natasha Reilly & Julia Frehner

In the second 21 Secrets interview, I have the pleasure of welcoming artist Julia Frehner of Keeping It So Simple and 21 Secrets teacher Natasha Reilly, who can be found at Creative Nachos.

I adore both of these women. Julia is so very generous and kind and she exudes peace. I feel like she is an angel urging me forward with my work in the world. Natasha's playfulness is such a light in my life. She also has a way of looking into people's souls and expressing what she sees in beautiful and creative ways. I hope to sometime spend time with both of these creative goddesses drawing with sidewalk chalk!

Julia's beautiful artwork from Natasha's class "Improvisation Station"

Julia has already shared this art on her blog.
This is what she wrote:

To my family and friends; a simple gift I give.
When the winds of change come please take this gift of wildflowers.
Each flower represents something which I believe will help you to carry on.

5 is a dynamic number which also represents change
the 'words' are 5 letter words
7 - 5 letter 'words' - trust, quiet, jesus, peace, faith, dance, grace

7 is a magical, mystical, spiritual number which also represents
the desire to know hidden truths.

As I was working outside, the last area I weeded was around my lavender bushes. They are almost ready to bloom and they are divinely intoxicating. I kept brushing against them to release more of their aroma. So, this gift is scented with lavender; inhale deeply and take it in; mmmhmmm now you are filled with calm.

Julia adds about 21 Secrets:
21 Secrets really is like a playground; a playground featuring 21 uniquely, gifted, spirit filled artists each willing to share, inspire, and invoke imagination and playfulness. I literally feel as if I’m skipping along this playground stopping to play at each station. Although I haven’t yet visited each artist; the ones I have spent time with have given me a treasure, a secret which I have tucked safely away to be used in helping me to come unto my own in self discovery, creativity, and expression. There have been no additional art supplies, level of ability, or requirements; simply, all that is needed is an open imagination and desire to play. That’s me, I’m all about keeping it so simple. I will never finish an art project, a journal page without scenting it, thank you Miss Lisa, yes, really, everything I now create I desire to stimulate as many senses as I can in order to fully capture what my intuitive self wishes to express. While at her play station, the greatest ‘secret’ Natasha whispered to me was, “It’s okay, you have permission to be a limitless you.”

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Natasha says:
Julia’s artwork is exceptional. It is such a beautiful representation of who she is- a strong, vibrant flower open to the Universe. She is open to the world and not only shares her gifts but opens her heart to all that is out there. It’s such a celebration of her as a person and the give and take in life. She is an inspiration!

21 Secrets is an art journaling playground with a heart! Not only am I in awe of the techniques being taught by my amazing, uber talented fellow teachers but I am in awe of the love, healing, joy, challenges and magic that is shared on a daily basis by both teachers and students alike. I have watched people grow in ways I never dreamed possible and felt the own limits of my life melting away. My class, Improvisation Station, is about breaking free of the labels and limits we impose on ourselves so that we can BE who we truly are – radiant, beautiful, creative souls.

---------------- Julia's and Natasha's Bios ------------------

Julia Frehner
Keeping It So Simple
After 49 years and my life adventures, I’m just coming to a discovery of who I am.
I started Natasha’s ‘play’shop, “Oh The Stories You Tell.” One of the exercises was to describe myself without all the titles. This all seems to fit for me at this stage of my life. Today this was my reply:

I am a daffodil bulb. I look a bit oddly shaped. I can be rough and flakey at times. There are days when I’m not sure which end is up. I am comfortable being planted out of season. I can summons bravery and courage to endure a bitterly, harsh, long winter because I sense potential and possibility deep within.

I am a daffodil able to break through the cold, slushy, earth. I willingly shoot straight up towards the heavens. Even when the Maiden of Spring is fickle or Old Man Winter sneaks in one last reminder of his power, I willingly blossom, open up and face whatever maybe before me. I will gracefully dance with the Maiden in her chilly, howling winds. I choose to bloom before the others because someone has to remind the world of the promise which is to come. I also bloom early so all the others, the non bulbous kind, can blossom and bloom in all their glory without any distractions. Unlike some of my fellow bulbs, I will mingle with other critters of the earth but build a resistance so they will not devour me. And, when the time comes, I will quietly fade away but hold on to the hope the same possibilities will occur again and again.

Find Julia at Keeping It So Simple.

[Be sure to read Julia's courageous story here.]


Natasha Reilly
Creative Nachos
After receiving her MFA in writing from the New School in New York City, Natasha spent time as Marketing and Development Director for a nonprofit organization and later, freelance writer creating promotional materials for small businesses. She has taught writing, editing and photojournalism workshops for teenagers and adults. In addition, she has written for publications such as Family Circle, Latina, Lifetips and MediaBistro.

Today, in addition to maintaining Creative Nachos, she teaches and mentors others in stretching their creativity, expanding it to new limits through the workshops she offers and the group she co-facilitates. She is a 2011 Sketchbook participant and most recently founded The Storyteller’s Village. [Be sure to check out Storyteller's Village. Natasha mentioned there is going to be a revolution in July!]

Website/Blog: CreativeNachos
Facebook: Creative Nachos Fan Page
Twitter: natashadoodle

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There is still time to join these two wonderful and amazing women!
21 Secrets is still open for registration. Join us!